"I am pleased to announce that we have acquired Halley's Fruit Juices, a premier producer of natural beverages," said Trent Lamb, CEO of Granddad's Root Beer. "This will allow us to take advantage of our strengths by applying them in a new business that is similar to our core business." Trent is speaking of $a(n)$ strategy.

Select one:

A$.$ related diversification

B$.$ operational

C$.$ lateral diversification

D$.$ vertical integration

E$.$ horizontal inte$$r ration